While in Chanhassen, be sure to catch a show at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres for a truly remarkable theater-going experience. Enjoy dinner and libations during a performance of Grease (on stage now through October), Sister Act (through February), or purchase tickets for one of the many musical performances the stage hosts.

If you enjoy admiring priceless works of art, don’t miss the Minneapolis Institute of Art, lovingly referred to as “Mia” by locals. Mia is located in Minneapolis, just south of the downtown district, and is the home of more than 50,000 pieces spanning 20,000 years. The best part? The museum is free all day, everyday.

Next to the Mall of America, St. Paul’s Grand Avenue is one of our favorite shopping and dining destinations. When the weather gets warmer and the days longer, Grand Ave is the perfect spot to peruse local boutiques and enjoy outdoor dining at Salut Bar Americain, Moscow on the Hill, WA Frost (which has one of the best patios in town) and more.

For hotel accommodations, I recommend the historic Saint Paul Hotel located in the heart of the city. The hotel has seen many guests in its hundred-year history, including Charles Lindberg, John F. Kennedy and Lawrence Welk, who played at the hotel on Saturday nights in the 1930s. In addition to its exciting past, the Saint Paul Hotel offers luxurious accommodations walking distance from dining and entertainment in downtown St. Paul.

I have three different places I’m thinking of: Eat Street, Uptown, and Northeast. Eat Street (approximately 13 blocks of restaurants) definitely hits the highest for food and, depending on how you judge quantity versus quality, lowest on the art gallery. Its big bonus...